Posted on 08/11/2008 8:16:28 AM PDT by Jeff Head
TBILISI, Georgia — Russia opened a second front of fighting in Georgia on Monday, sending armored vehicles beyond two breakaway provinces and seizing a military base and police stations in the country's west, the Georgian government and a Russian official said.
GEORGIAN FORCES
RUSSIAN FORCES
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
So what does Senaki have to do with South Ossetia?
This all sounds fishy and I don’t trust the Russians in this.
Maybe that’s what President Bush said to him, at the girls BBALL game at the Olympics.
Although I feel Georgia’s sovereignty may be a moot point.
“The idiot Georgians did.”
Yes they did. And why?
Were they being motivated? I noted mention of mercenaries.
Could some nation have wanted to provoke this conflict?
Maybe even Russia herself?
Go back to school Arnie, Turkey damn sure is a NATO member.
The fat lady ain’t sung yet. But she’s clearing her throat :-(
If we're being honest, we would have to recognize that in their current jobs neither Obama nor McCain has any power to "do anything" in any case. The only way they would, is if the crisis in Georgia (and perhaps beyond) extends beyond January of '09.
The best either of them could do in the next few months, would be to agitate for a Senate resolution condemning Russia's actions.
Given that they're both effectively powerless for the present, the only thing they can do is to use this as a means to distinguish themselves from one another.
From that perspective, I think McCain is doing a good job of setting himself apart from Obama. He's making clear that "history is back," and we need somebody who is equipped to deal with it.
I think that Putin is testing President Bush.
The timing of this was purposeful with the Olympics in play and the American President in China. The Russian’s are acting very deliberately and they know that the US is weak now with elections pending the economy in mess. This shows you that perceived weakness will be taken advantage of and we are way late in responding to this.
Russia is probably the greatest disappointment in recent years. It has turned into a KGB oligarchy. [President Vladimir] Putin wants to restore the days of the old Russian empire, and he continues to repress democracy, human rights, and freedom of the press. Mysterious assassinations are even taking place. If oil were still $10 a barrel, Mr. Putin would not pose any kind of a threat. I do not believe you will see a reigniting of the Cold War. But I do believe that Putin and his cadre of KGB friends are causing us great difficulties in a variety of ways, including a failure to assist us in trying to rein in Iranian nuclear ambitions. John McCain - JUNE 4, 2007
“There isn’t much we can do at this point. Russia is helping us with Iran...”
I’m confused. Isn’t that the same or similar reason why we never did anything about Russia assisting Iraq in the movement of WMD’s to Syria before the Iraq war?
No doubt Russia did a lot to provoke them. Russia is a like a classic play ground bully. They taunt you in the hope that you throw the first punch, so they can beat you senseless all the while saying “he started it”.
The obvious smart thing to do is not to rise to the bait. Why the Georgians did is a mystery, but it was a very very stupid thing to do.
CNN is reporting that Russian troops are in Gori and that the US is evacuating its advisors and families.
cs
While I agree with your comments, I’m in a quandary here. If military action were required, I’d rather have Cheney ten to one over McCain. I have seen what passes for judgment for John McCain. It makes me very uneasy.
I don’t want to turn this thread into a debate over Obama vs McCain. You and I agree that Obama would make an absolutely terrible CIC.
I lived in Turkey for a year, and what I should have said is that they are not part of the European Union. Believe me they are not as hamstrung as the rest of Europe. They are a part of NATO. My mistake. But the point is essentially the same. The Turks are our Ally and they are NOT part of the EU and they are not Hamstrung by the weinies in the EU.
Well, advisors=civilians and families are not troops and they do need to get the hell out now.
Anyone know how well a Javelin Missile will do against the reactive armor on Russian T-80 tanks?
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